USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The second day of the season proved tough for a young Jacksonville State volleyball team which fell to Grand Canyon University and then came up short against Montana State later in the evening.
 
The Gamecocks (0-3) struggled to get much going in the first match of the day falling to Grand Canyon (21-25, 15-25, 18-25).
 
The first two sets were tight early before the Lopes (1-1) built identical eight-point leads at 19-11 in each of the opening two frames. JSU climbed back within four at 22-18, in the first before falling 25-21.  
 
It was an 18-12 lead that GCU held late in the third when JSU clawed back within four again at 21-17. GCU would finish strong to take the set and match. The Lopes' size caused problems for the Gamecocks all match as Jax State was held to .114 attack percentage.
 
Freshman Kaylee Frear had another good performance hitting .333 with nine kills and three blocks. Junior Allyson Zuhlke led the offense with 11 kills on 22 swings, while freshman Sadie Anderson, in her first career start, had a team-best nine digs.
 
In the nightcap, the Gamecocks again had the opportunity to grow against tough competition. JSU fell behind two sets, but took the third, before suffering the (19-25, 17-25, 26-24, 21-25) setback to Montana State.
 
Zuhlke posted consecutive kills to tie the opening set at 10-10. Later, Jax State trailed by just two before the Bobcats (2-1) ended the set on a 6-2 run to grab the first frame, 25-19.
 
Pressing to overcome an early deficit, the Gamecocks hit just .067 in the second as the Bobcats had control for most of the set. However, JSU regrouped in the third to win a set which featured 12 ties before back-to-back kills by Frear sealed the win at 26-24. With 11 newcomers, including Katie Will, a sophomore who transfered to JSU primarily for beach volleyball, each set provides experience for live-game situations.
 
A 4-0 JSU run in the fourth tied the set at 9-9 following a pair of services aces by Charis Ludtke, but the Bobcats made a run of their own to take a 17-13 advantage. JSU would even the score one final time at 20-20, but the comeback would not be completed.
 
Zuhlke finished the second match with 18 kills to give her 29 on the day. Kirk's 17 digs was the most for a Gamecock against the Bobcats, with Hart also in double figures with 13 to go along with 28 assists for a double-double night.
 
"We played a lot of new  players with all the newcomers we have," said JSU head coach Terry Gamble who's in th early stages of his third year at the helm. "We played some really tough competition and at times looked really good, and at other times, showed our youth. This team can grow and become really good."

JSU will have a short week once they return from Colorado, as the Gamecocks turnaround to face Georgia Southern and The Citadel on Thursday, Sept. 1 in the "Bash in the Boro" tournament in Statesboro, Ga.